Here is the description of the
Worldwide Marriage Encounter which appears in the Directory of
International Associations of the Faithful, published by the Pontifical
Council for the Laity.

* * *

Official name: Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Acronym: WWME

Established: 1965

History: Worldwide Marriage Encounter was established in Spain by the
Jesuit Father Manuel Calvo whose work with young people made him realize
how important it is for the growth and upbringing of children for
parents to live in harmony.

He designed an instrument that would facilitate and deepen dialogue
between the husband and wife to strengthen the "I will" that they bear
in their hearts.

After a few years, it reached the United States from where it spread
rapidly to countries in other continents, thanks to the work of Father
Chuck Gallagher, another Jesuit, together with a number of married
couples who enriched the movement by beginning to organize "marriage
encounter weekends" for couples and priests.

Identity: The movement exists to help married couples live their
relationship responsibly, through authentic dialogue, reference to a
support community and attendance at weekend marriage encounters
organized for couples who wish to learn to know one another more deeply
and to galvanize their married life and their relationship with Our
Lord.

The meetings are animated by the testimony of three married couples and
a priest dealing with various aspects of daily living.

This experience is also provided for priests and religious who wish to
authentically live their own vocation, and to couples of non-believers.

The movement fosters the integration of married couples and families
into the parishes, encourages them to cooperate with the parish priests
in catechetical work for engaged and married couples, and motivates them
to place themselves at the service of the Church by devoting themselves
to the sick, the elderly living alone, and the poor.

Organization: WWME is governed at every level (local, diocesan,
regional, national) by ecclesial teams made up of one priest and a
married couple.

At the worldwide level, the movement is coordinated by the International
Coordination Team, assisted by seven ecclesial teams which represent the
existing secretariats for Africa, Asia, the United States, Europe,
Canada, Latin America and Oceania.

Membership: WWME is present in 82 countries around the world.

Publications: Monthly, bimonthly or quarterly publications at the
national level